Today I'm thankful for a smooth phonics lesson.

11/12/19

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Phonics is my favorite subject to teach. There's something super satisfying about giving kids the tools they need to become readers. There are lots of light bulb moments in phonics instruction, and watching/listening to kids apply their learning in actual stories and books is pretty incredible. The analytical side of me also really likes phonics. Even though English is pretty crazy and filled with lots of exceptions (or rule-breakers as we call them in class), I love that there are rules and patterns to follow and that learning this code is the key to learning how to read. Wanna see me geek out?? Just ask me about hard and soft c, open and closed syllables, or the sounds the letter y can make. I could go on for hours.

So naturally, when I have the chance to pick the date/time for a formal observation, phonics is my favorite go-to. Such was the case with today's observation. I scheduled it weeks ago. I teach phonics first thing in the morning, so I requested an early morning time slot on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Mondays are often unpredictable -- kids are either in super sleepy mode or still amped up about their weekends. By Thursdays and Fridays, kids (and, ummmmmm, sometimes their dear sweet teachers) have their minds on the weekends. But Tuesdays and Wednesdays -- they're gold. We don't always have the luxury of scheduling formal observations, but when given the chance I might as well set myself up for success, right?

Anyhow -- Tuesday, November 12 at 9:00 was available, so I snatched it up. Hooray!

What I didn't realize at the time, though, is that my Tuesday was going to fall after a 3-day weekend, thus making it a Super-Monday. Ooops. I also didn't realize that I was inadvertently scheduling my observation on the day of a full moon. Double oops.

So much for aligning all my stars! Ha!

Truth be told, teaching is messy and unpredictable and full of on-the-spot decisions. It's a balance of being ultra prepared and intentional about everything, and also reacting to reality. I read somewhere once that teachers make more split second decisions in their days than surgeons do. I don't know if that's really true or not, but it kind of makes sense -- throw 22 wiggly-toothed 6-year olds in a room, all with different learning styles, different needs, different emotions and different reactions, and even the best laid plans can come quickly unhinged! Now throw in a full moon on a Super-Monday and all bets are off!

As much as I love structure and routine (and phonics rules), I love the unpredictable, human aspect of teaching even more. So, when I realized that my observation lesson was going to fall on a not-so-ideal Tuesday at 9:00, there was nothing to do but laugh at myself, roll up my sleeves, and dive in.

I'm thankful to have my formal observation behind me (I still get kind of nervous, even after all these years). I'm thankful it went smoothly. I'm thankful that my students can now unlock the code to reading 'ou' words. And, I'm thankful for the messy, crazy, busy, unpredictable, fun, and important way I get to spend my days.